This common idiom comes from a phrase in Romeo and Juliet: "What's in a name? that which we would call a rose by any other name would smell as sweet." Here Juliet is bemoaning Romeo's last name, her family's sworn enemies. It is used to make the point that what someone or something is called is arbitrary compared to their or its own intrinsic qualities. There is truth in this but from a Catholic perspective it is incomplete. Yes, it is true that God gave each of us unique intrinsic qualities, but He also gave us a name, albeit through our parents, we know that he gave them the authority to do so. A name does have a purpose and a meaning; it is inseparable from our intrinsic qualities. Names convey an identity that was given, they foster connection, build trust, and reveal purpose.  

God renamed Abram to Abraham and Simon to Peter according to their new purpose. Jesus in his deep love "calls his own sheep by name"(Jn10:3). How sweet is this! And it is in His name that God answers us. The Catechism of the Catholic Church explains that everyone's name is sacred. The name is the icon of the person. it demands respect as a sign of the dignity of the one who bears it" (No 2158). The name that was given to us is for eternity and it will be written in the book of life (Rv3:5,21-27). Hopefully. 

I was thinking about all this when deciding on a name for my Etsy shop. I started the shop because I really wanted to share the Faith and my love for the church using the gifts and talents God gave me. The products I design are inspired by the Bible, Catholic tradition and Catholic Saints. Their stories, quotes and teachings not only direct my spiritual life but also impel me to share their wisdom. It is my hope that they will Spark conversations, inspire prayerful reflection, and open the door for Connection with fellow Catholics or anyone curious enough to ask, what does Offer it Up mean? The 'star' of the products are the quotes or sayings from the Bible and the Saints so I was originally going to name the shop The Word and Saints but then I thought of Jesus and how He Is the Word and in order to become a Saint you must have Him, The Word, in you spiritually by faith and physically by The Holy Eucharist so I decided on The Word In Saints instead.

 If you’re still here reading this, I hope you enjoyed my long roundabout way of sharing my thought process on how I named my shop and thank you for your support. You are in my prayers. Finally, I'd like to offer up this creative endeavor in the name of Jesus, for the greater glory of God and the salvation of souls.     If you are not already on our email list, just scroll down to the bottom and sign up. We will send you a  monthly newsletter to support and encourage Catholic living in the modern world, and special discounts on our products throughout the year.